Ethiopia, Italian News Agencies Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Addis Ababa, January 19/2024(ENA ) The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) and its Italian counterpart, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today.

The MoU was signed between Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) CEO, Seife Deribe, and Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) CEO  Stefano De Alessandri.

Speaking on the occasion, Seife Deribe said the two big news agencies, ENA and ANSA, can strengthen the partnership and relationship between Italy and Ethiopia.

ENA, which is an old news center like ANSA, has been gathering, compiling and disseminating news stories through the mass media, websites and various social media platforms, he added.

Moreover, the oldest and experienced news service provider in the country with 38 branch offices produces documentary films and TV programs.

The news agency employs 5 local languages and 3 international languages, namely English, Arabic and French, it was learned.

According to the CEO, Ethiopian News Agency has plans to open branches in the neighboring countries Djibouti and Kenya as its vision is "to become a reliable and impactful new source in Africa.''  

ANSA CEO Stefano De Alessandri said on his part that this partnership will allow the agencies to improve coverage of events in Ethiopia and vice versa.

The CEO expressed his hope that the agreement will also help in bringing the two countries even closer and strengthening the cooperation between them.

Alessandri stated that this agreement is just the first step that will hopefully bring the agencies towards cooperation. 

“As stated in the agreement, we may develop specific commercial projects for companies and institution that want to communicate from Ethiopia to Italy and for Italian companies and institutions that aim to communicate in Ethiopia."

Inter agency cooperation can add strength and reliability as news agencies, especially in our times when information spreads across social media at great speed, the CEO noted, adding that ANSA is for instance developing interesting technological project with artificial intelligence and block chain and it is open to share insights and best practices.

ANSA has international websites, publishing news in English, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and German. 

According to the CEO, Ethiopia is one of the most important and dynamic countries in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Moreover, Ethiopia and Italy have strong relations as demonstrated by the high level exchange of visit between the respective prime ministers in 2023, he said.

Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Agostino Palese said the agreement is useful in helping to further consolidate relations between the countries.

‘’We are very pleased that the ties between Italy and the Ethiopia will also expand to include collaboration between Italy's most important news agency ANSA  and the Ethiopian most important news agency, ENA.’’

Similarly, Desalegn Seyoum from Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the agreement will play a significant role in enhancing the relationship between the two countries in areas of culture, economy, social, and political affairs.